By By KEVIN SCOTT CUTLER
Lifestyles & Features Editor
Goose Creek State Park will host a holiday open house Saturday, just in time to help folks get in the Christmas spirit.
The fourth-annual event is funded by The Friends of Goose Creek, a volunteer organization, according to Kelley Thompson, park superintendent.
This year’s event is being held a little earlier than usual.
“We always have lots of folks come in the weekend of Thanksgiving asking for things to do, so this year we decided to give them things to do,” Thompson said.
The park has planned activities to appeal to everyone, from young children going up in age to their grandparents, Thompson said.
The schedule includes a Tots Discovery program beginning at 10 a.m. Youngsters between the ages of 3 and 5 can enjoy a holiday craft and story time hour designed especially for them.
At the same time, adult visitors to the park can partake of shade-grown coffee and bird- watching. Park staff will share tips on feeding winter birds, and a bird-watching hike along the Palmetto Boardwalk is planned.
“We’re all baking things for the open house, including my famous sour cream coffee cake,” Thompson said with a laugh. “We’ll serve shade-grown coffee, which is also sold here at the park. With shade-grown coffee, they don’t clear-cut the mountainsides, so they leave the trees and all the birds have their habitat. The coffee is grown under the trees and comes from all over the South American region.”
Visitors of all ages may enjoy the “going green” workshop beginning at 11:30 a.m. Using recycled paper and tissue paper, park staff will offer instructions on making holiday greeting cards and gift tags. Tips for making the holiday season more “earth friendly” will also be shared.
Throughout the open house, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m., Goose Creek park rangers will don their elf caps and operate their own Santa’s workshop specializing in holiday crafts and ornaments.
“We’ll have 10 easy projects laid out for everyone to make, from gift card holders to peppermint mice,” Thompson said.
The park’s open house is always well-attended and the staff enjoys planning it every year, Thompson added.
“It’s just a fun time to spend with your family, before the season gets too hectic,” she said.
And the fun won’t end Saturday. Visitors are invited to return Dec. 12 for a wreath-making workshop. Preregistration is required for that event.
“That is also funded by The Friends of Goose Creek, and Lowe’s is providing the fresh greenery,” Thompson said.
The open house activities and the wreath workshop are offered free of charge, but donations to The Friends of Goose Creek are always appreciated.
Goose Creek State Park lies east of Washington, on Camp Leach Road. The park, located on the shores of the Pamlico River, opened to the public in 1974. For more information, call 252-923-2191.